City makes a dream come true for a fan

Published 4:00 am, Friday, November 5, 2004

Only one person has stopped Joe Ayoob in his tracks this football season at CSSF -- a 13-year-old English boy named Jon Paul Oxley.

Oxley is fascinated by fire engines, American football and the city of San Francisco. He watches NFL games on TV with his dad, Mark, and says he likes American football just as much as soccer.

"If I couldn't be a firefighter, I'd like to be a soccer referee," he said from his home in Plymouth this week. "I know the rules pretty good."

When Oxley was two weeks old, he was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. He also has a mild case of cerebral palsy.

Through the London-based Children's Wish Foundation International, which helps terminally ill youngsters, a trip was arranged for the Oxley family to the place where -- to listen to Jon Paul -- dreams are made of.

Thanks to San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White, they were picked up at San Francisco International Airport in a fire engine. They spent last week visiting a half-dozen fire stations, riding a fireboat on the bay, watching firefighters train on Treasure Island and visiting Pier 39, Alcatraz and City Hall.

"He touched every one of us," said Hayes-White.

The highlight, says Jon Paul, was "meeting the mayor (Gavin Newsom) and sitting at his desk."

The 49ers were out of town, but the defending state champion City College of San Francisco Rams were playing host to College of San Mateo. Hayes-White's brother is Dan Hayes, CCSF's offensive coordinator, so it was quickly arranged for Oxley and his family to attend the game. Jon Paul spent the fourth quarter on the sideline with the Rams, who rolled to a 48-7 win.

Ayoob threw four touchdown passes. "He looked quite small to me (from the box)," Oxley said, "but when I got to meet him, he looked huge."

After the game, Ayoob and his teammates gave Oxley a few cheers. "You could see the joy in his face," Ayoob said. "He was a little shy, but you could see how happy he was. When you see a kid like that, it didn't matter what the score was at that point."

"This little boy was as happy as any kid you'll see in your life," coach George Rush said.

Ayoob and his teammates gave Oxley more than an exciting afternoon. He said the game ball sits in his bedroom, "near the machine that gives me my special milk."